Horse Racing

The Brisbane Winter Racing Carnival comes to a close this Saturday as Eagle Farm hosts the final race meeting, AAMI Stradbroke Handicap Day.

The most anticipated day of the carnival, Saturday’s meeting is headlined by Queensland’s richest race, the $1 million Group 1 Stradbroke Handicap (1400m).

This year the sprint feature has attracted a capacity field of 18 runners plus five emergencies, including the clear pre-race favourite Whobegotyou.

Trained by Melbourne Cup winning mentor Mark Kavanagh, four-year-old Street Cry gelding Whobegotyou is having just his second start this season after running a gallant second to Hot Danish in the Group 1 Doomben 10,000 (1350m) on May 29.

Currently the short $3 favourite at IASbet, Whobegotyou has drawn mid-field with barrier nine for Saturday, which will suit the Michael Rodd mount perfectly.

Another highly fancied sprinter ready to fight it out in the Stradbroke Handicap on Saturday is Redoute’s Choice filly Melito. Sitting as the $6 second favourite through IASbet, the Gerald Ryan-trained Melito has drawn ideally with barrier four and is coming off a succession of frustrating minor placings.

She has finished either second or third at her last three starts, all at Group 1 level, starting in April when she was runner-up in the All Aged Stakes (1400m) at Randwick. Melito then placed second to Albert The Fat in the BTC Cup (1200m) at Doomben before running third in the Doomben 10,000 (1350m) last start.

Despite not being guaranteed a start unless one of the final field are scratched, the Bart Cummings-trained Latin News is the only other Stradbroke Handicap hopeful at single figure odds, currently paying $8 for a win at IASbet.

Latin News is the first emergency, with David Pfieffer’s lightweight filly Graceful Anna the last to make the cut. The three-year-old Canny Lad filly is at $11 odds after drawing ideally with barrier two for Saturday.

The classy Tony Noonan-trained Ortensia has drawn out wide with barrier 21 while $26 chance Mic Mac represents good value paying $26 at IASbet.

Saturday’s cracker line-up also boasts other great races including the $500,000 Group 1 Queensland Derby (2400m) for three-year-olds, the $500,000 Group 1 T J Smith for two-year-olds, the $300,000 Group 2 Brisbane Cup (2400m) and the $250,000 Group 2 Queensland Guineas (1600m).

Keep up to date with all of these events, view the final fields and read the previews at Eagle Farm Races. And don’t forget to check out the odds and get in on the betting action at IASbet to finish off your winter carnival with a big win!

2010 Stradbroke Handicap Final Field & Barrier Draw